Lighting system



E, l. DODDS.

LIGHTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 2.5, I917- Patented Nov. 23, 1920 WY 1 W155 SE S A Home i iET FlCE.

ETHAH 1'.

sLanwERY BOLT CDJXEPAN'Y, OF PITTSBUItb-H, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIGHTIN E SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

Application mes July 25, 1917. Serial no. 182,?48.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ETI-IAN T. Donne, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of rrllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Lighting Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and. use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in lighting systems and more particularly to means for activating lamps containing light absorbing material,-the object of the invention being to provide a system for supplying current to furnish, periodically light flashes which will suilice to activate or enerlight absorbing material forming a coating within the globe of the lamp, and to control the supply of current for said light flashes b means which will he operated by pulsatory waves employed in wireless telegraphy.

l'l 'ith this object in view, the invention consists in certain novel features as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatical view illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

1 represents a transformer, the primary 2 of which may be connected in circuit with any suitable source of electric current supply. T he secondary 3 of the transformer 1 will supply derived current to a circuit in which any desired number of incandescent lamps, such shown at 5, may be included in multiple arc. Each incandescent lamp constitutes an energizing or activating means for light absorbing material contained within the lamp structure. Each lamp structure may comprise two globes 6 and 7, one within the other and so disposed that the incandescent lamp will be contained within the inner globe. The inner surface of the outer globe 6 (or the outer surface of the inner globe 7) is provided with a coating 8 of material which will absorb light,viz.-which will be activated by light from the source of light within the globes --and retain such light for a cons1deral'ile perihd after the said source of light shall have been er-:tingui'shed and glow with sum a rt brilliancy to'illuminate the surrounding for ordinary purposes where contain also a a mild light is desired. The said light absorb ng coating may comprise such material as zinc or calcium sulfid and preferably small amount of radio-active material, such as asalt of radium.

It 13 necessary to light the incandescent lamp only at intervals, and my presentinventron contemplates the control of the lighting circuit by means actuated by aerial wave impulses employed in Wireless telegraphy. For this purpose, one terminal of the primary 9 of a transformer 10 is connected with an aerial conductor or collector 11 for Hertzian waves, and the otherv terminal of this transformer primary may be grounded. The secondary 12 of the transformer is included in circuit with the coil of a solenoid 13 and this circuit may also contain a switch 14:. A rod 15 is connected with thecore of. the "solenoid 13 and carries a piston 16 adapted to operate in an ir pct 17. The piston 16 may be provided with a small vent l8 and the pct 17 may be provided with a check valve 19, whereby the piston will be permitted to move in one direction withcomparative freedom and be retarded in its movement in the other direction. The rod 15 carries a bar 20 which constitutes one member of a circuit closer, the other members of said circuit closer being formed by contact blocks 21, 21, carried by springs 22,-the latter being secured to suitable stationary posts 23. The contact blocks 21 of the circuit closer are so disposed as to be bridged by the bar20 and are included in series in the circuit l.

When the switch. 14: is closed, (inferences of electrical potential set up in the aerial conductor or collector 11 will result in impulses in the primary of the transformer 10 to cause a current to be induced in the secondary 12 of said transformer and this current will energize the solenoid 13 and cause the core thereof to be drawn upwardly Within the coil. The rod 15 will be permitted by the air-pot structure to rise with comparative freedom and the cross bar 20 of the circuit closer will engage the spring-sustained contact blocks 21 and move the same upwardly,-thus closing the circuit 4 and causing the lighting of the incandescent lamp 5.

When the current in the solenoid coil ceases either by opening the switch 14 or by the cessation of impulses from the aerial conductor 11, the core of the solenoid and parts carried thereby will drop by gravity, being retarded in theirdownward movement by the air-pot structure, and the cross bar member and contacts of the circuit will gradually descend until the cross bar leaves the contact blocks. and thus opens the circuit which feeds the incandescent lamp. With the use of the circuit controlling devices above described, the circuit 4 will be maintained closed for a sufiicient length of time to cause the light absorbing coating in the lamp structure to be activated, even though-the current which energizes the solenoid be of momentary duration.

l-laving fully described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Lettersdr atent, is z 1. ln a lighting system, the combination of a globe containing a coating of light absorbing material, a source of electric light within sail globe, an electric circuit including a source of currentsupply and said source of electric light, a circuit closer in said circuit, an aerial conductor, means controlled by differences of electrical potential in said aerial conductor for controlling the operation of said circuit closer, and means whereby the opening of the circuit controlled by said circuit closer will be retarded.

2. In a lighting system, the combination of a globe provided with light absorbing material, a source of electric light withinsaid globe, an electric circuit including said source of electric light and a source of electrical supply, a circuit closer in said circuit, electro-magnetic means for operating said circuit closer, a transformer having its secondary included in 'circuit with said electro-magnetic means, an aerial conductor for collecting wireless impulses included in circuitwith the primary of said transformer, and means whereby the opening ofthe circult controlled my said circuit closer will be retarded.

3. in a lighting system, the combination of a globe having a coating therein, of light absorbing material, a source of electric light within said. globe, an electric circuit including said source of electric light and a source 'lecting wireless impulses, included in i l source of electric light within said globe,

a circuit including said source of electric light and a source of electrical supply, circuit closer in said circuit, a solenoid havin its core connected with a movable member said circuit closer, a transformer having secondary connected in circuit with the coil of the solenoid, an aerial conductor for cclcuit with the primary of said transfer and means for retarding the opening of circuit closer.

5,. In a lighting system, the combinatio i" a globe containing a coating of light air ing material,-a source of electric light wit in said globe for activating said material, a cuit including said source of electric li, and a source of electrical supply, a circus closer in said circuit and comprising yielding contact and a movable bridge piece, solenoid, a rod projecting from the core of said solenoid and carrying the bridge piece oi the circuit closer, an air-pot structure for retarding the movement of said bridge piece when the same moves toward position to open 2% i} the circuit, a transformer having its sec ondary included in circuit with the solenoid, and an aerial conductor for collecting wire less impulses, included incircuitwith primary of said transformer. v as In testimony whereof-I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

ETHANI. DODDfi.

Witnesses EDWIN Srnnonafiron, F. H. ALLi'soN. 

